My placement journey
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Hi! I’m Yuki, a final-year BSc Business Management student at Lancaster University. I’ve recently wrapped up a 12-month marketing industry placement in Glasgow with Thermo Fisher Scientific. In this blog, I’ll take you through my journey, from the moment I applied, to navigating life on placement, and finally returning to university.
Why did I want a placement year?
From the start, I knew I wanted to pursue something within the business field, but I wasn’t entirely sure which direction to take. My interests spanned across marketing, human resources, and consulting, which made the idea of a placement year especially appealing.
I saw it as a chance to apply what I’d learned in lectures to real-world scenarios, gain hands-on industry experience, and hopefully to figure out what I would like to do in terms of a career path.
Finding and applying to placements
I applied to a handful of companies throughout the year—some early on, and others much later, closer to exam season, thinking I had plenty of time left to apply. Spoiler: I didn’t.
Time flew because of my busy university life, and suddenly, summer exams were approaching… and I still hadn’t secured a placement, as I had put it off.
LUMS Careers were a huge help throughout the process. I booked 1:1 CV advice sessions, joined mock interviews, and got honest feedback that helped me refine my applications.
My first rejection was genuinely heartbreaking, as I’d put so much into it, but over time I learned to treat each “no” as a stepping stone. I started using feedback to improve my next applications and slowly built more confidence.
Practising interviews with friends made a big difference too. We’d run through questions in relaxed settings, which helped me feel more prepared and less robotic. It was reassuring to know I wasn’t alone in the process, and that everyone was figuring it out as they went!
Looking back, I wish I’d kept applying consistently throughout the year. But every part of the journey taught me something about resilience, timing, and trusting the process.
In the end, I kept putting in the hard work and secured a marketing placement I really wanted.
First week at work: How I settled into a new city and corporate life
As someone who lives close to Lancaster University, the idea of moving to Glasgow was exciting, but also a little nerve-wracking. It wasn’t just a new city; it was the beginning of my corporate journey, and I had no idea what to expect.
To ease the transition, I chose to live in student accommodation. It felt like the right balance, giving me a chance to meet other students and build a social life outside of work.
But what surprised me most was how quickly I found a sense of belonging within my company itself.
From day one, I was welcomed by a brilliant group of new interns like myself and intern alumni who had stayed on in full-time roles. They ran a buddy scheme and hosted regular check-in meetings to make sure we were settling in well.
These chats weren’t just about work; they also gave great advice about settling into Glasgow too. From hidden gem cafés to weekend trip ideas, they shared everything that helped me feel at home.
My core team was incredibly supportive, and I was lucky to be invited to introduction meetings with extended teams across the business. It was a great way to gradually meet people, understand different functions, and start building my network. Everyone was open, friendly, and genuinely interested in helping us grow.
Furthermore, the Management School was incredibly supportive throughout the transition. Early on, I had a one-to-one session with the team to check in on how I was settling in and to talk through any questions or concerns.
What really stood out was how proactive they were, they even helped me connect with other Lancaster students who were also based in Scotland, which made a big difference in feeling less alone in a new city.
End of placement reflection
When I first joined the company, I knew there were certain skills I wanted to improve, things like professional communication, confidence in meetings, and understanding the marketing world from a corporate perspective. But what I didn’t expect was just how much I’d learn along the way, and how many unexpected skills I’d pick up.
One of the first things I noticed was how much my email writing improved. It sounds simple, but learning how to tailor tone and format depending on who I was writing to, whether it was a senior stakeholder or a fellow intern, is an important skill to develop. It’s one of those subtle skills that makes a big difference in how you’re perceived professionally.
I was also confident with my communication skills before joining. However, nothing pushes you out of your comfort zone quite like presenting to 100 plus colleagues in a corporate setting. Compared to presenting to students, it felt a lot more daunting, but it helped me grow into a more confident individual.
Working with such a diverse team was another highlight. I collaborated with people from different backgrounds, departments, and even countries, which taught me how to adapt my style and approach depending on the situation. It was a real lesson in empathy, flexibility, and teamwork.
In the end, I discovered just how much I genuinely enjoy marketing, something I might never have realised, especially since I hadn’t taken any marketing modules during my degree.
While my placement was rooted in marketing, I was lucky enough to gain exposure to other areas too, like events management and data analytics. These cross-functional experiences gave me a broader understanding of how different parts of the business connect and helped me discover new interests I hadn’t considered before.
Beyond the professional side, the year was full of excitement in my personal life, too. I made some lifelong friends, built a strong network, and got to explore Scotland in ways I never imagined. From weekend trips to spontaneous city adventures, travelling around Scotland was a massive highlight, and definitely one of the perks of relocating for a placement.
And of course, it was nice to be able to pocket some savings after a year of working!
Returning to Lancaster University
Like others, one of my biggest worries about coming back to university after placement was joining a new cohort, most of my friends had graduated, and I wasn’t sure how I’d fit in. Thankfully, the university hosted a pre-return call, inviting past placement students to share their experience on settling back in, which really helped.
Now, a month in, I’ve settled back in better than I expected. My placement year taught me time management and confidence, and I feel more organised than ever. Making new friends has been easier too, through societies, events, and just chatting with course mates.
I’m so grateful for my placement year. It’s shaped who I am today, and I’m excited for what final year has in store.
Want to know more about placements? Go to the Management School's placements page
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The opinions expressed by our bloggers and those providing comments are personal, and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of Lancaster University. Responsibility for the accuracy of any of the information contained within blog posts belongs to the blogger.
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